Estrogen receptors α and β in the inner ear of the ‘Turner mouse’ and an estrogen receptor β knockout mouse

Abstract Estrogen receptors have earlier been shown in the normal mouse, rat and human inner ear. If estrogens are important in normal hearing and development of presbyacusis in the normal population is not known. However it is known that patients with Turner syndrome, where a lack of estrogens is one of the main characteristics, commonly develop an early presbyacusis. A ‘Turner mouse’ has been developed, as a model for the ear problems in Turner syndrome, and it shows otitis media and a premature aging of the hearing. Estrogen receptors exist in an α and a β form. In this study inner ear tissue, from the Turner mouse and an estrogen receptor β knockout mouse (βERKO), was investigated regarding estrogen receptor α and β using immunohistochemistry. Results show that the Turner mouse has the same pattern of inner ear labeling, both concerning the estrogen receptor α and β, as that of a normal CBA/Ca mouse, with positive staining in the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion. The βERKO mice show close to normal inner ear morphology and positive estrogen receptor α immunostaining at the same locations as the CBA/Ca mouse.